The guys horsed around for hours on the island, goofing off and playing
around. Brian and AJ were running around like little kids when Howie heard
what he thought was thunder. A few minutes later,Brian suggested that
maybe it was time to head home.
"No,we can stay a few more minutes," Nick told him. Since Nick was driving
the boat, Brian figured that he knew what he was talking about. But as the
minutes flew by,the sky overhead darkened. Kevin was the next to suggest
it was time to head home.This time,Nick didn't object.
Nick had just steered the boat away from the island when the rain started.
And it didn't start out as a drizzle-five minutes into the ride, the boys
were all soaking wet. Kevin and Howie walked up to the front of the boat,
as Nick explained to them that he couldn't see on his own to drive it. So
with Brian and AJ next to him behind the wheel, Nick listened closely to
Kevin and Howie's instructions.
"Man,it's freezing out here!," Brian gasped,as the wind picked up and sent
a very creepy chill down Nick's spine. Brian had just turned to walk down
the stairs into the lower deck when the boat gave a violent lurch to the
left, sending a wave of water onto the boat. AJ cried out as he grabbed
the chair next to him for support. Nick looked up in time to see both
Kevin and Howie being thrown overboard.
"Brian! Help me!," Nick shouted. Brian came racing up the stairs, and
slid a few feet away from Nick. The boat lurched again as Brian grabbed
the rail and held on for dear life. Then he grabbed 2 life jackets from
the cabinet under the wheel and Brian took them from him."You've got to
get these to them.Then you and AJ have to get them back on the boat
somehow," Nick said.Brian nodded,and handed AJ one of the life jackets.
They walked to the front deck of the boat,and peered into the black,
angry waters below.
"Nick! They're not down here!," Brian cried. "Keep looking!," he shouted
back."They couldn't have been pulled that far out!." He and AJ began
to call out to Kevin and Howie, with no luck. "Nick,they're gone!," Brian
cried,walking back to where Nick was standing. The three friends exchanged
horrified looks as the unthinkable began to sink in. Were their friends
still out there somewhere? Just as the rain began to slack off, Nick
turned the wheel and the boat gave a sick groan as it died.
This isn't happening to us! There's no way!," AJ cried,truly in shock
about the whole situation."Whose idea was this anyway?!," he tossed the
life jacket onto the deck and walked back up to the front of the boat.
"What if they've drowned out there?! What if they're just a few feet
away,and we can't get to them?!," Brian watched AJ pace back and forth.
"AJ,if you'll just calm down,we can get help.There's a radio downstairs,"
Brian said. Looking a little less angry but still worried, AJ followed him
downstairs as Nick tried to start the boat. The engine would turn over,
but all it did was make a sick grinding noise. Crying out,Nick smacked
the steering wheel and put his hands over his face. The sky was clearing
up,but the thunder was still rumbling over his head.
His eyes roamed the calm waters as a terrible thought crossed his mind.
What if AJ was right? What if Kevin and Howie had drowned? It was his
fault. He had been the one to tell Brian that they could stay on that
island.He hadn't bothered to check the weather report that morning,like
he normally would have. He walked across the deck to the back of the boat,
and his eyes caught sight of the small inflatable one-man dingy roped
to the side.
"Nick?The radio won't work either.We're only getting static," Brian called.
He and AJ were walking in Nick's direction. Nick glanced up at the sky.
"I think I've got a solution," he said, reaching for the ropes to untie
the boat.
"Nick,what are you doing?," AJ asked. Nick and Brian pulled the small
boat onto the deck,careful not to catch it on any sharp objects."I'm gonna
take this boat and go back to the shore," he said.
"What,has the rain clouded your brain or something? That's a one-man
dingy!," AJ cried. Nick nodded.
"I'm gonna take it back to shore,and then get help out here for you guys.
Then maybe we can find Howie and Kevin," Nick answered. "Leave us here?
Alone?," Brian asked. Nick looked up and met his friend's eyes.
"You'll be safe here. I won't risk putting the two of you in danger,"
he whispered."Nick,we don't-," but he cut Brian off."This whole thing
is my fault. I didn't stop to check the weather this morning,and now
Howie and Kevin are lost out there somewhere. They could be hurt. I don't
want to waste any more time standing here," he said. "Please,stay here
until I come back. Drop the anchor off the side of the boat,and keep
trying the radio," he said, snapping himself into a lifejacket. Brian
gave him a nervous glance as the three of them tossed the dingy into
the water. Nick held his breath as he jumped into the water. When he
came up,he was gasping for air and felt as though ice was piercing his
skin.The water was so cold. He climbed into the boat,and started the
engine.
"Stay below the deck and keep trying the radio. There are towels and
food down there.You'll be fine until I can come back," he shouted.Brian
nodded,and then he and AJ disappeared. Turning around,Nick steered
the boat away from his friends across the cold and calm waters. He
wondered where Howie and Kevin were.And if they were allright.
Okay, the boys have weathered part of the storm. Now they have
to find Kevin and Howie...if the boys are still out there.Find
out what happens next in Chapter Three!
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